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- Capture of La Gloire 1795 SOLD!
Capture of La Gloire 1795 SOLD!
Capture of La Gloire, April 10th 1795. Published June 1st 1816. Painted by T. Whitcombe. Engraved by T. Sutherland. Publish'd Feb 1st 1817 at 48 Strand for J. Jenkin's Naval Achievements. Included with the print is the original folio text pages account of the action as first published with the aquatint.
The Action of 10 April 1795 was a minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars in which a squadron of French Navy frigates was intercepted by a British battle squadron under Rear-Admiral John Colpoys which formed part of the blockade of the French naval base of Brest in Brittany.
Original aquatint engraving on medium weight wove paper with wide margins. Good overall condition with exceptional original colour. The plate has the date of publication and the name of the publisher beneath the engraved title. The approx engraved image area of the plate is 7" x 10.25" (175mm x 260mm). Engraved plate mark area is approx 8.5 x 11.75 (215mm x 300mm). The folio sheet size is approx 11.5" x 14" (290mm x 355mm).
Excerpt from the written account as published:
CAPTURE OF LA GLOIRE, APRIL 10, 1795.
THE following is an extract of a letter from Rear-Admiral Colpoys to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty, dated on board his Majesty's ship London, at Spithead, April 16, 1795:
Please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of my arrival here with his Majesty's ships under my command. That on the 29th March, Le Jean Bart, a French corvette of 20 guns and 120 men, bound to Brest, was captured by his Majesty's ships Cerberas and Santa Margaretta. She had been charged with dispatches from the French minister in America.
That on the 30th, the Robust recaptured the Caldicot of Chepstow, for Barcelona, bound to She was taken 18th March, off Cape St. Vinecent, by six French ships of the line, two Guernsey.
That on the 10th instant, we discovered and gave chase to three French frigates, which soo shaped different courses. I made the signal to follow the two which pointed most to the westward. The Astrea, Lord Henry Powlet, with his aceustomed promptitude and attention, kept after the largest and seemingly best goer of the three, with which he closed about ten o'clock at night, and obliged her to surrender after a well-fought action of fifty-eight minutes, which does great credit to his lordship's good conduct.
The particulars are in his lordship's letter to me, which accompanies this.
COLPOYS.
(Signed,)
P.S. The Robust joined me off the Isle of Wight. Captain Thornborough reports, that La Gentille, of 40 guns, was taken on Saturday last by the Hannibal, but that La Fraternité escaped.
James Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. From the Year 1793 to 1817." As a record of naval events spanning a period of over twenty years it has no precedent. At no time prior to 1817 had a publisher attempted such a complete volume of documentary naval prints. It is the quality of accuracy which makes Jenkins so valuable" Roger Quarm curator of pictures at the National Maritime Museum 1998.
A genuine antique print over 200 years old.